Search This Blog

My Domestic Links of the Day

The Cesarean Complex Industry
I've had three Cesareans - only one was medically necessary. My granddaughter was delivered via C-section because we have lost the skill in this country of delivering breech babies. Here's an interesting article that looks at the economics and the health risks behind this very common and very invasive medical procedure.

1. National Hospital Discharge Survey; CDC. 2. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.4. Health Affairs; American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 5. Health Affairs;Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine; “The Cost of Having a Baby in the UnitedStates.” 6. PLOS ONE; Pediatrics; Clinical & Experimental Allergy; Diabetologia; “The Impactof Caesarian Section on the Relationship Between Inhalant Allergen Exposure andAllergen-Specific IgE at Age 2 Years.”According to one study, only 38 percent ofCesareans today have a clear medicalindication, such as a problem with the placentathat would make labor dangerous. The majorityof C-sections involve a mix of more-subjectivefactors and, ultimately, a doctor’s judgment call.Doctors may suggest surgery after weighingvarious factors that might argue against a vaginalbirth—say, a previous C-section (until recently,obstetrical guidelines discouraged vaginal birthafter Cesarean, ­or VBAC, for fear of rupturing auterine scar). OBs may also consider nonmedicalfactors such as scheduling: Cesareans are morepredictable than vaginal births.In the 20th century, Cesareans becamemuch less risky than they had been, thanks toantibiotics and improved techniques. But theyremained relatively rare until the 1970s, whenthe rate of C-section births began climbingsteeply, to today’s peak of one in three.Strangely, this increase hasn’t made birth saferoverall: after declining steadily through most ofthe 20th century, the maternal mortality rate hasactually been rising over the past few decades.From one hospital to another, C-section ratescan vary by a factor of 10, without any apparentinfluence on newborn health. This variationsuggests that hospital policies have a hugeimpact on delivery decisions. Avoiding unneces-sary C‑sections may not be a priority for allproviders—C-sections bring in about 50 percent more revenue than vaginal births do.Yet what’s good for hospitals in the short term may not be good for patients in the long term.

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June.. However, since they were starting to smell . …… . Brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting Married.Read more at http://www.thisblewmymind.com/origin-piss-poor-popular-sayings/#4SB4VTA03U1bMJwZ.99

The idea behind Common Core is straightforward. Unlike nearly every other developed nation, the United States has set no standards outlining what American students should know by the time they graduate high school. For many states, that has meant setting the bar low and patting themselves on the back about how brilliant their students are. But it turned out many kids, particularly poor and minority students, were unprepared for college. The Common Core standards were meant to make sure kids in, say, Mississippi and New York all had the same basic level of competence in reading and math.
But the implementation has been a disaster. For starters, the 27-member committee that wrote the standards had few actual teachers on it, but plenty of representatives from the testing industry. Because it is illegal for the U.S. Department of Education to exert influence over state curriculums, the Bill Gates foundation stepped in and funded most of the effort. Even worse, the committee that wrote the standards no longer exists, and there are no formal procedures for amending them.

Webb had taught at the Catholic girls' school — run by IHM Sisters of Monroe (IHM) — for nine years before her firing in August. School administration had either not known, or had looked the other way, when she and her partner Kristen Las had a "wedding" ceremony in Windsor in 2012. But when Webb informed school administrators this summer that she was pregnant (presumably through in vitro fertilization), the school explained that she had violated the morality clause of her employment contract. She was offered the choice of being terminated or resigning with continued health insurance coverage through the school year and a non-disclosure provision.

Johnson’s War brought further progress, but progress then stopped. It stopped because government is not good at making a distinction between needy and lazy. It taught moms not to marry the father of their kids because that would reduce their welfare benefits. Welfare invited people to be dependent. Some people started to say, “Entry-level jobs are for suckers.” Many could live almost as well without the hassle of work.
Despite spending an astonishing $22 trillion dollars, despite 92 different government welfare programs, poverty stopped declining. Government’s answer? Spend more!

Dr. Suzanne Humphries on the vaccine dilemma.

Suffering the little children - about little kids at mass.
About 17 years ago or so, I packed up my three little boys and drove an hour or so to a shrine with my homeschool group. We were going to have mass and then listen to a talk by the priest, have lunch, explore the grounds and visit the gift shop.

My little boys were wiggle worms. They messed with stuff, they played with the kneelers, they made each other laugh - typical stuff boys 8 and under will do. But I felt great being surrounded by the love of the other homeschool moms and I loved the idea that the kids would get to play with their friends. I was also looking forward to an uplifting and encouraging talk by the priest.

It was not forthcoming.

Instead he took the opportunity to scold us for not controlling our children and while looking directly at me, said that children who could not sit still at mass were being disrespectful. At that point, I respectfully got out of my seat, opened my stroller, plopped my baby's butt into it and told the other boys, "We're leaving." And with tears in my eyes, but my head held high, I left. That priest was an idiot.

And I only had the courage to do that, because years and years before, my mother had been in a similar situation. My sister was playing the pew and fell and bumped her face. She let out a blood curdling scream but mom picked her up and held her and she calmed down. However, the priest in full vestments came up to my mom and told her he would not start mass until she took us out of the church. My mom left and that is the first time I ever remember her NOT going to mass.

So it was very soothing to apply this to those old emotional scars:

I love having little kids at Mass. I love it when they are bored and pay no attention and squirm. I love it when they get distracted by a moth and spend five minutes following the moth’s precarious voyage among the lights. It’s all good. They are being soaked in the Mass. They hear the words and feel the reverence and maybe they even sense the food of the experience, you know? Sometimes people complain and make veiled remarks about behavior and discipline and decorum and the rapid dissolution of morals today and stuff like that but I have no patience for it. For one thing they were little kids at Mass once, and for another if there are no little kids at Mass, pretty soon there won’t be any Masses. You have to let kids be kids.I love having little kids at Mass. If you are distracted by a little kid being a little kid you are not focused on what’s holy. Little kids are holy. Let it be. My only rule is no extended fistfights. Other than that I don’t care about grapes and yawning. I think the cadence and the rhythm and the custom and the peace of the Mass soak into kids without them knowing it. That’s why a lot of the students here come back to Mass, I think—it sparks some emotional memory in them, and once they are back at Mass then they pay attention in new ways and find new food in it. It’s all good. The more the merrier. I don’t mind dogs when I celebrate Mass, either. For one thing they are generally better behaved than little kids, but for another I figure the Mass soaks into them too, and how could that be bad? You know what I mean?

Popular Posts

It seems that one of the biggest events in confirmation preparation in this country is the letters of support to be given to the confirmation candidates during their mandatory retreats.

I have three such letters saved on this blog:

Confirmation letter to my daughterConfirmation letter to my fourth sonConfirmation letter to to my third son
I've asked my children what they remember about the letter they got from me and their dad, and also what they remembered about the letters they received.
The answer was not much, or at least nothing specific. In general they were happy to have gotten a bag full of letters and there was a sense of feeling loved and supported. I guess that's the main thing - for them to have a sense that this is an important step in their spiritual growth, and that people they know, love and respect have taken the time out of their lives to let them know that!
So here are some tips on procuring and writing letters for young confirmation candidates. Start thinkin…

March 5 and 6, 2010
My Dearest Gabe;
I can’t express to you enough what a wonderful gift you have been to your father and me from the very moment you were born. You have always been such a beautiful, good natured, fun loving and enjoyable baby, little boy and now young man. I am so proud of you and so honored to be your mother.

You know Gabe, you have always been a big guy. When I was pregnant with you the midwife was always amazed at how big you were getting inside of my stomach. And when you came out (with much effort!) you were as big as some 3 month olds! You have stayed ahead of the curve in size for kids your age. I think it is because God has given you a big heart. You are so full of love and joy you needed a big heart to keep it all in and a big body to hold it all. You are my gentle giant.

I know God has a special plan for you and I look forward to helping you figure out what that might be. Always hang on to the memory of these times, remember all that your father and I…

In a few weeks you will be confirmed as a full member of the Catholic Church. Congratulations! I know that you have really worked hard to understand and learn as much about your Catholic faith as you could before receiving this sacrament.
On your retreat there are a few things your Dad and I would like you to remember -

You were our fourth son in a row but you have always been a unique little boy. I love your bright blue eyes, all of those freckles and dimples. I guess God really wanted you to tap into your Celtic Heritage!

I love how you are always ready with a quick smile for everyone.

I loved how even when you were a baby you would cry when a baby on t.v. was crying, or if a kid outside was crying or basically when you saw anyone crying - you didn't even have to know why - you just did. That's great empathy and you still have that today. Don't lose that. It's a great gift to be able to relate to people even when they are at their lowest.15 R…

This is from a discussion I participated on over at the now defunct Birth Control and Catholic Church Forum aka the boardIlovetocommenton. This was a very pro-contraception, dissident Catholic discussion board. I originally posted this on January 21, 2004. Their points initalics, and my responses are highlighted.

*****************

One key point we keep making on the discussions is about how and why the sex act is actually used by married couples, and in this sense, there is absolutely no difference between NFP and ABC in the acts couples make use of (assuming they're using NFP to avoid conception). I would disagree. The is a key element in the practicing Catholic couple's use of NFP in the marital act, is their respectful understanding and acceptance of the teaching of the Catholic Church as well as their submission to that in obedience to Christ's teaching. This is something that is fundamentally missing from the marital act with artificial contraception.

I cannot believe that you are old enough to make your confirmation!! The time has flown by for me! When I was growing up, I always wondered what my own daughter would be like. And I was sure that I would have a daughter because I was the oldest daughter, of the oldest daughter, of the oldest daughter!

But after having your four brothers in a row, even I was beginning to have my doubts! But God had you in the plan after all!

I was amazed when you were born - at your beauty and femininity -at just at how lucky we were to have you!

You were a special surprise too because you came only 15 months after your brother Noah! But as hard as it was having two babies at the same time, I love how close you two have always been, and grateful that you would always have each other to love and count on.

Of course you know you were named for your grandpa Isadore - whom I sure you would have loved very much. In some ways you are very much like him - quietly keeping things to …

God's Not Dead is an uplifting and enjoyable Christian-based movie appropriate for students from elementary school through college and their parents. We went with two of my teenage children and my 8-year-old daughter and we all enjoyed the movie and have had many discussions about it since.

We enjoyed it as a family, but I would also recommend this movie for church youth groups and homeschooling groups. I hope to buy the DVD when it comes out to donate it to our parish.

The premise of the movie involves a freshman philosophy student's challenge to defend the existence of God to his adversarial and intimidating philosophy teacher and his classmates. The stories of other characters (a preacher, a selfish business man, a young woman caring for her mother with dementia, a successful blogger who faces a devastating diagnosis, and a Muslim convert to Christianity) are woven into the plot line until they are…